Horton elected city’s next mayorRandy Horton was elected to become Russellville’s next mayor by a margin that overwhelmed the City Council member and Finance Committee chairman Tuesday night. Unofficial numbers from the Pope County Election Commission headquarters indicated Horton garnered 2,015 votes (76.76 percent) compared to Williamson’s 610 votes (23.24 percent). “I was not expecting that kind of a number,” Horton said after the votes were counted. “I’m not going to sta...

Federal judge overturns Arkansas' marriage ban LITTLE ROCK (AP) — A federal judge struck down Arkansas' voter-approved gay marriage ban Tuesday but stopped any rush to the altar by putting her order on hold so the state can consider an appeal. U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker ruled in favor of two same-sex couples who had challenged a 2004 constitutional amendment and earlier state law defining marriage as between a man and a woman. The couples argued the ban violated the U.S. Constituti...

Runoffs decided TuesdayTwo mayoral races in the Arkansas River Valley will be decided during Tuesday's runoff election. In Russellville, Alderman Randy Horton will face former mayor Tyrone Williamson. During the Nov. 4 general election, Horton received a little more than 49 percent of the votes with 3,149 while Williamson collected nearly 33 percent with 2,102 and Martin Irwin received nearly 18 percent with 1,145 votes, according to official results. Pope County bo...

Dover scores show increaseDOVER — Dover School District Academic Mentor Verna Boxnick presented a historical overview of Arkansas Comprehensive Testing, Assessment and Accountability Program (ACTAAP) scores to the Dover Board of Education during its regular meeting Thursday. This year, ACTAAP will be replaced with Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) testing, a computer-based program keyed to Common Core educational standards. Boxnick...

Lamoureux: I’m honored for this opportunityGov.-elect Asa Hutchinson on Nov. 5 announced he would hire Michael Lamoureux of Russellville as chief of staff. “I am honored that he would give me this opportunity,” Lamoureux said. “I am thankful to the voters that allowed me to serve in the House and Senate over the previous 12 years.” Lamoureux, a Republican, served in the Arkansas House of Representatives from 2002-08 and as House Minority Leader from 2005-06. In 2009, he was elected to ...

Over 1,400 early votes first weekThe Pope County Election Commission reported 1,471 people voted during the first week of early voting in the runoff election. Alderman Randy Horton and former mayor Tyrone Williamson are vying for Russellville mayor after receiving the most votes during the Nov. 4 general election. Horton raked in a little more than 49 percent of the votes with 3,149 while Williamson collected nearly 33 percent with 2,102 votes, according to official results. ...

Heavy rains may hike winter cattle costs HARRISON (AP) — Agriculture officials say heavy rains that have fallen this year may have driven up production costs for Arkansas cattle farmers this winter. The National Agricultural Statistics Service says 52 percent of Arkansas' pastures are in good or excellent condition. Heavy rains throughout the year largely benefited cattle farmers with plentiful hay. But excessive rains in north-central Arkansas diminished the crop's nutrient content ...

Group: Obama order may benefit 14,000 in Arkansas President Barack Obama's executive action aimed at sparing nearly 5 million people in the U.S. from being deported, which one group estimated could affect at least 14,000 immigrants living illegally in Arkansas, drew criticism from state politicians but praise from human rights activists. The president's executive order has been decried by Republicans as a presidential overstep. Some important things to know about it: WHO'S AFFECTED The immigr...

Where gay marriage cases go from here LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Challenges to the state's ban on gay marriage are being fought in both federal and state courtrooms in Arkansas, but such unions could come to the state by other means. No decisions were issued after the state Supreme Court and U.S. District Judge Kristine Baker heard arguments in separate but similar lawsuits Thursday. If rulings are delayed, experts said Friday, court cases from other states would directly impact Arkansas....

Clinton Foundation reports jump in contributions =LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Contributions and grants to the tax-exempt foundation that former President Bill Clinton operates with his family grew nearly threefold between 2012 and 2013, backed by its merger with another of his charities, the establishment of an endowment and large donations from nine unspecified donors, tax records show. The Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation released its tax documents to The Associated Press on Wednesday, ...

Gay marriage opponents rally at state Capitol LITTLE ROCK (AP) — About 200 opponents of gay marriage gathered outside of the Arkansas Capitol on Wednesday, asking the state Supreme Court not to overturn a 2004 ballot measure defining marriage as being between a man and a woman. Attorneys for the state and a group of gay couples are scheduled to appear Thursday before the high court, where justices will weigh whether to uphold a Pulaski County judge's May ruling against the ban. More than ...

Mayoral runoff early voting startsRussellville residents who want to decide their next mayor may start voting at 8 a.m. Tuesday at the Pope County Election Headquarters on East Main Street. Early voting continues from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays through Nov. 24. Polls will be open in Russellville from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 25. Russellville’s next mayor will be either current Alderman Randy Horton or former Mayor Tyrone Williamson. They garnered the most votes followi...

Bill Clinton says he's surprised by midterm loses LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton says Democrats lacked a "national advertising campaign" in the recent midterm elections and was surprised that many Senate races were not closer. Clinton says in an interview with Politico that voters who were opposed to Democrats felt more strongly about the election than those who supported his party. He says many people couldn't hear what he called "a fairly coherent economic message." Clinto...

At Clinton center, the past and the future collide LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Bill Clinton always said presidential campaigns must be about the future, but Hillary Rodham Clinton's potential White House bid is bound to bring up the past. How the former secretary of state navigates her husband's triumphs and travails during the 1990s could figure prominently in a possible 2016 race for the presidency. In a touch of legacy shaping, Bill Clinton and his onetime White House advisers highlighted his record...

Hutchinson not keeping Tennille at economic agency LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson says he's not keeping the state's chief economic development official when he takes office next year. The incoming Republican governor on Friday said he had decided not to keep Grant Tennille as the Arkansas Economic Development Commission's director. Hutchinson, who defeated Democrat and fellow ex-congressman Mike Ross in the Nov. 4 election, said his transition steering committee is alrea...

Governor reaffirms intent to pardon son LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The office of Arkansas Gov. Mike Beebe on Friday reaffirmed his decision to pardon his son in a felony marijuana case amid complaints that he is showing favoritism. Beebe, who leaves office in January because of term limits, said this week his next round of intended pardons, due in December, would include one for his son Kyle, who was convicted in 2003 of felony marijuana possession with intent to deliver. The state Parole B...

Incoming Senate president to start early LITTLE ROCK (AP) — The Arkansas Senate voted Friday to allow its incoming president to take the reins early, as lawmakers divvied up committee assignments and began preparing for next year's legislative session. Sen. Jonathan Dismang was elected by acclamation to begin work immediately as Senate president, a title he hadn't expected to take until the session begins in January. Dismang was elected to replace former Sen. Michael Lamoureux as the...

Hutchinson backs Webb to stay on as GOP chairman LITTLE ROCK (AP) — Arkansas Gov.-elect Asa Hutchinson is backing Doyle Webb's bid for a fourth term as chairman of the state Republican Party. The incoming Republican governor endorsed Webb, who is running for another two-year term when GOP state committee meets next month. Webb was first elected state Republican Party chairman in 2008. Webb has chaired the party as it's made dramatic gains in a state that had once been a Democratic holdout in...